Adjustable vehicle-body



n. H. WEIR.

ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21. law.

1 ,3 1 1,429., Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

David l-LWeiv,

rm: cumunm \LANH-IRAI'II m, WASHINGTON. h. r.

D. H. WEIR ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2[. ISHB.

l ,3 1 1,429. Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Del id H. Weir,

run comm-m m/mumzum cu" WASHINGTON. n. u

DAVID H. WEIR, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE-BODY.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed December 21, 1918 i Serial No. 267,778.

This invention relates to an lmproved V8 hicle body or box of the classadapted to be adjusted inheight for carrying live stock or grain, andhas for its objects to provide such a construction that the adjustmentsmay be conveniently made, and that stresses incident to its use will beadequately sustained. Another object is to provide few and simple partsso that manufacture will be economical and that durability may beattained; and the invention has reference to the use of a platform orbottom for the box which provides running-boardsor side steps, andincludes end-sections adapted to be adjusted to correspond in heightwith the sidesections, or may be adjusted independently thereof, or maybe removed, and includes removable end-gates, these detachable featuresbeing of great advantage when loading'or unloading live stock. j

With the foregoing objects in View the invention presents anovel'construction, combination and arrangement of parts as describedherein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, itbeing understood that changes in form, size, proportion and minordetails may be made within the scope of the invention, as claimed.- Inthe drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective; view of an adjustable vehiclebody or box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a broken, perspective viewin detail to illustrate the mounting for a side and an end section '0the vehicle box, the strips being in contact. Fig. 3 is a front View ofone of the aliningbars employed, a part of a top-strip being added, andFig.4: is a sideview of the same, partly in section.

Fig. 5s a front view of one of the standards employed, a part of abase-strip being added, and Fig. 6 is a side view, partly 1n section, ofthesame. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through one of theiolamping bracketsto illustrate means for maintaining; the strips of a section'in contactorin spaced relation.

' gaging'in an aperture Fig. 8 is an end view of the vehicle box,showing the parts extended to form a rack. Fig. 9 is a broken away, planview showing grooves for receiving the strips for an end section or anend gate. Fig. 10 is a broken away plan View showing an end gate, a pairof clamping-brackets and a pair of standards being shown in transversesection. Fig.

11 shows a catch mounted on one of the links of a lazy tongs,-

Referring now to the drawing, numeral 1 indicates a platform provided atits lower slde with cross-strips or sleepers 2 so that it will besuitably reinforced, said platform preferably being rectangular in planand of any desired length or width, and being provided, adjacent to itsside edges and at longitudinalintervals, with apertures 33.

I provide a pair of side sections 1, each consisting of a base-strip 5,a plurality of standards 6 projecting above the platform, a top strip.7, a plurality of alining-bars 8 secured to and projecting downwardlyfrom the top strip for engaging the standards, and auxiliary strips 9intermediate the basestrip and top strip, a plurality ofclampingbrackets 10 being employed and secured to the strips by bolts orequivalent keepers a to lie crosswise of the standards and aliningbars,so that by use of suitable set-screws b, the alining-bars may be pressedagainst the standards, or may be released therefrom, as may be required.

The base-strips 5, preferably, are secured to the standards by rivets 0as best shown in Fig. 6. Numerals 11 (Figs. 2, 8,) indicate castings orbrackets which are secured to the ends of the sleepers 2 and whichprovide housings for the lower ends of the standards 6, said standardsbeing disposed in apertures 3, and by use of wedges 12, each en- 13 of astandard, the base-strips may be firmly seated upon the platform, ormaybe readily removed therefrom. p V I The standards and alining-barsmay have any suitable form in cross-section, but for these members Iprefer the use ofohannelbars, substantially as shown, and it will beseen that the strips of the sidesections may be disposed with theiredges'in contact, and may be secured in of the set-screws b, I disposedin the grooves of the standards and locked relation by means thealining-bars being engaging in the apertures3 of the platform, anytransverse swinging movement of the side sections being practicallyeliminated'by operation of the brackets 11, and by means of the tie-rods14; and 14: which connect the side sections, the position of parts beingas shown in Fig. 2 when the box is filled with grain or other likematerial, the lower edges of the strips being provided, longitudinally,with grooves d for receiving the tongues e which are provided for theupper edges of the strips 5 and 9, to prevent loss of grain whichotherwise, on account of vibrat on, might move outwardly between thestrips.

Nhen adjusting the strips of the s de sections to form a rack, the setscrews may be loosened and the strips may then be spaced apart, thealining-bars sliding upwardly in the channels of the standards, and itis obvious that the distance between the Strips for providing a rack ofgreater or lesser he ght will be a matter of choice of an operator, whoby use of the holder-members or screws 6, may cause the alining-bars andstandards to be maintained in locked relation, and the rack thusprovided may be used for parrying bulky articles .or live stock, In thisconnection it should be stated that the number of strips 9, and theirwidth, may be 1ncreased ordecreased, and thestandards and alining-barsmay haveany suitable length.

The end sections each consist of a plurality of strips 16, a top strip17and a v removable base plate or gate 18. As best shown in Figs. 9 and10. vertical grooves 19 are formed, these being provided for the ends ofthe side strips 5, 7 and 9,, upon the inner sides thereof, each groove19 be ngv formed by use of a pair of vertical struts f for receiving theends of the strips 16 and 17 and the base-plate or gate18 ment oned, thestruts being suitably secured to the strips of the side sections.

Each top strip 17 is provided with .a pa r of blocks 20 traversed by atiesrod 14;, and it will be seen that when the top strips7 of the sidesections are elevated to form a rack, or are lowered to form a grain.containeigthe strips 17 move therewith. However, the strips 17 may bedisconnected from the strips 7, if required, by removing the tie-rod14:. Numerals '21 and 22 indicate links ofa lazy tongs, two pairs of thelazy tongs pretcr ably being employed for an end section, as best shownin Figs. 1 andr8, the pivotal mounting g for each link being upon ametal-' lic plate h, saidplates being provided for the strips of the endsections; and it will be understood that, by use of the links22 whichoperate-as hand levers, the lazyt ngs may be swung to cause the stripsto be elevated so that their edges will be in contact while the stripsof the side sections are disposed in spaced relation, the ends. of. thestrips 16: movingin the groeves319, this op? 'ua-l use of the erationfor an end section which is independent of the operation for the sidesections, being illustrated in Fig. 1. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, thestrips for an end section, by manlevers or links 22, may be disposed inspaced relation to form a rack, the ends of the strips 16 being disposedin said grooves 19.

The edges of the strips of the end sections are provided,longitudinally, with grooves d and tongues 6, similar to those providedfor the strips of. the side sections, to prevent loss of grain when saidstrips are disposed in their lowermost position as shown in Fig. 2.

At m are indicated suitable catches, each being mounted upon a link forlink-lever 22, to maintain the strips of the end sections in spacedrelation when the links are disposed in vertical ,alinement. At a areindicated suitable projections or detents, these being provided for oneof the strips of each end section for engaging in recesses 19 of thelink-levers 22 to maintain the edges of the strips of the end section incontact. V

The rear end-section may be readily removed for loading or unloadingcattle, the tie-rods 14 and 14 being first removed for this purpose, andthe end gate 18 also be ing removed. For loading or unloading sheep orhogs, the rear end-section may be elevated to the position shown in Fig.1, the rear end-gate being removed. Since the apertures 3 are disposedinwardly from the edges of the platform and are in alinement, a pair ofside-steps or ledges m are provided and are foimd to be of advantage.The ad-' vantages in the movable features of the vehicle box'heretoforementioned will be appreciated by users of trucks or wagons since theymay be used for a variety of purposes. The several adjustments may bereadily .made and stresses incident to the various uses will beadequately sustained.

VlVhat 'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

In an adjustable vehicle box, a platform rectangular in plan providedwith upwardly projecting standards adjacent to two of its .opposededges, a pair of sections each including a plurality. of horizontalstrips adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of thestandards, a secondpair of sections normally connected with the :first named sections, eachsecond section including a pin rality of horizontal strips disposed atright angles to the strips of the first :named sections adjacent to thetwo remaining edges of the platform, and pairs: of lazy tongs mounted onthe second sections for moving the strips thereof into contact or intospaced relation.

i 2. In an adjustable vehicle boX, a rectans gular platform, a pair ofside sections each receiving a V including a base-strip, standardsprojecting above the platform and secured to the basestrip, a top-strip,alining-bars secured to the top-strip and engaging the standards,auxiliary strips intermediate the base-strip and top-strip, a pluralityof brackets each being secured to one of said auxiliary strips, aplurality of clamping elements each being mounted in a bracket and beingmovable for pressing an alining-bar against a standard, and a pair ofend-sections above the platform, each being removably connected with theside-sections.

'3. In an adjustable vehicle box, a rectangular platform, a pair ofsections each including a base-strip, standards projecting above andadjacent to two opposed edges of the platform and secured to thebase-strip, a top-strip, alining-bars securedto the topstrip andengaging the standards, auxiliary strips intermediate the base-strip andtop-strip, means for securing the strips upon the alining-bars atlongitudinal intervals of the standards, and a second pair of sectionseach including a plurality of connected, horizontal strips, said secondsections being dlsposed above and adjacent to the remaining edges of theplatform and removably connected with the first named sections.

4. In an adjustable vehicle box, a platform, a pair of side-sectionseach including a base-strip, standards projecting above the platform andsecured to the base strip, a top-strip, alining-bars secured to thetopstrip and engaging the standards, auxlhary strips between thebase-strip and top-strip, a plurality of brackets each being secured toone of said auxiliary strips, a plurality of set-screws each beingthreaded in a bracket and being revoluble for engaging an alining-bar atindeterminate longitudinal intervals thereof for pressing said baragainst a standard, and a pair of end-sections above the platform, eachincluding a plurality of connected strips, each end-section beingremovably connected with the side sections.

5. In an adjustable vehicle box, the combination of an aperturedplatform provided with sleepers on its lower side, brackets mounted onthe sleepers and disposed in alinement with the apertures of theplatform, a pair of side-sections each including a base-strip, aplurality of standards traversing the apertures of the platform andsecured to the base-strip, each having a part disposed below a bracket,a top-strip, alining-bars engaging the standards and secured to thetop-strip, an auxiliary strip between the base-strip and top-strip, abracket secured to the auxiliary strip, a clamping element engaging thelast named bracket movable for pressing an alining-bar against astandard, a pair of end-sections above the platform removably connectedwith the sidesections, and means engaging the standards and said firstnamed brackets tending to press the base-strips of the side-sectionsagainst the platform. 7

6. In an adjustable vehicle box, a rectangular platform provided withalining apertures adjacent to its side edges, a pair of side sectionseach including a base-strip, standards outwardly of the base-stripengaging in the apertures of the platform and secured to saidbase-strip, a top-strip, alining-bars secured to the top strip andengaging the standards, auxiliary strips between the base-strip andtop-strip, a plurality of brackets each being secured to one of saidauxiliary strips, a plurality of clamping elements each being threadedin a bracket and being movable for pressing an aliningbar against astandard, and a pair of end sections above the platform, each beingremovably connected with the side-sections, that part of the platform,outwardly of the standards, being continuous throughout its.

entire length.

7. In an adjustable vehicle box, a rectangular apertured platform,standards above and extending through the apertures of the platform, apair of sections including horizontal strips disposed inwardly of thestandards, a second pair of sections including horizontal stripsremovably connected with the first named sections, a plurality of lazytongs arranged in pairs for moving the strips of a section into contactor into spaced relation with reference to each other, and means tomaintain the strips of a section in stationary relation after they havebeen moved.

8. In an adjustable vehicle box, a platform, a pair of sections abovethe platform each including a plurality of horizontal strips, standardsmounted upon the platform each being secured to one of said strips,alining-bars engaging the standards each being secured to one of saidstrips, means for removably securing the strips of a section instationary relation with the alining-bars, means for adjusting thealining-bars longitudinally of the standards, a second pair of sectionsincluding horizontal strips disposed at right angles and removablyconnected with the first named sections, and a plurality of lazy tongsarranged in pairs for moving the strips of a section into contact Orinto spaced relation with reference to each other.

9. In an adjustable vehicle box, a rectangular, apertured platform, apair of side sections each including a horizontal basestrip, aperturedchannel-bars projecting above and traversing the apertures of theplatform and secured to the base strip, a horizontal top-strip,channel-bars secured to the top-strip and engaging the first namedchannel-bars, horizontal auxiliary strips intermediate the base stripand top strip, wedge-members in the apertures of the first namedchannel-bars tending to press the base-strips against the platform, aplurality of brackets each being secured to an auxiliary strip, aplurality of screws threaded in sections, each end-section including aplu- 10 rality of horizontal strips, and a pair of lazy tongs mounted ona section for moving the strlps thereof into contact or into spacedDAVID H. WEIR.

Witnesses:

HIR'AM A. STURGEs,

ARTHUR H. Sronsns. 1

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

